The relationship between stimulus-response mappings and the detection of novel stimuli in a simulated luggage screening task

摘要

Automaticity research suggests that consistent mapping leads to better skillnacquisition than varied mapping. Other research demonstrates that in somensituations varied mapping leads to better transfer. The effect of stimulus-responsenmappings in complex visual inspection tasks, wherein transfer stimuli might differnfrom training stimuli, has seldom been studied. Therefore, the effects ofnconsistency vs variability of practice on learning and transfer in a simulatednluggage screening task were compared. Consistent mapping led to faster and morenaccurate initial skill acquisition. However, during transfer, varied mapping led tonhigher levels of sensitivities and confidence and fewer deviations from optimalnresponse criteria. Consistent mapping assists initial skill acquisition; however, inntasks where the physical identity of transfer stimuli might differ from those usednin training, varied mapping leads to more efficient transfer. The results providenan important starting point for training individuals to achieve optimal transfernof learning in complex tasks. This research demonstrates that a combination ofnvariables influence transfer of learning in real-world visual inspection tasksnwherein transfer conditions may not be identical to training conditions.nAcquisition of skills during training is facilitated by consistent stimulus-responsenmappings; however, in order to ensure optimal transfer of skills to situationsninvolving novel stimuli, training should incorporate varied mapping of stimulus-nresponse elements.